Control channel with flexible numerology

ABSTRACT

Techniques are described for wireless communication. One method for wireless communication includes transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), an indication of a control channel subcarrier spacing to be used by the UE; and transmitting a control message having a subcarrier spacing in accordance with the indication. Another method for wireless communication includes transmitting, to a UE, an indicator channel identifying at least a subcarrier spacing to be used in one or more subsequent control channels. One or more subsequent control channels are then transmitted in accordance with the subcarrier spacing indicated by the indicator channel.

CROSS REFERENCES

The present Application for patent claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/377,522 by Yang, et al., entitled “RadioControl Channel With Flexible Numerology,” filed Aug. 19, 2016, assignedto the assignee hereof.

INTRODUCTION

The present disclosure, for example, relates to wireless communicationsystems, and more particularly to a new radio control channel withflexible numerology.

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication content such as voice, video, packet data,messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be multiple-accesssystems capable of supporting communication with multiple users bysharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, andpower). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code-divisionmultiple access (CDMA) systems, time-division multiple access (TDMA)systems, frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) systems, andorthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) systems.

In some examples, a wireless multiple-access communication system mayinclude a number of base stations, each simultaneously supportingcommunication for multiple communication devices, otherwise known asuser equipment (UEs). In a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced(LTE-A) network, a set of one or more base stations may define an eNodeB(eNB). In other examples (e.g., in a next generation or 5G network), awireless multiple access communication system may include a number ofsmart radio heads (RHs) in communication with a number of access nodecontrollers (ANCs), where a set of one or more RHs, in communicationwith an ANC, may define an eNB. A base station or radio head maycommunicate with a set of UEs on downlink channels (e.g., fortransmissions from a base station or radio head to a UE) and uplinkchannels (e.g., for transmissions from a UE to a base station or radiohead).

A UE may receive control messages from a network access device inaccordance with a control channel numerology. The control channelnumerology may indicate, for example, a subcarrier spacing and symbolperiod duration of control channel resources allocated by the networkaccess device.

SUMMARY

In one example, a method for wireless communication is described. Themethod may include receiving, at a UE, an indication of a controlchannel subcarrier spacing to be used by the UE; configuring the UE touse the control channel subcarrier spacing based on the indication;receiving a control message; and decoding at least a portion of thecontrol message using the control channel subcarrier spacing.

In one example, another method for wireless communication is described.The method may include transmitting, to a UE, an indication of a controlchannel subcarrier spacing to be used by the UE; and transmitting acontrol message having a subcarrier spacing in accordance with theindication.

In one example, another method for wireless communication is described.The method may include receiving, at a UE, an indicator channelidentifying at least a subcarrier spacing to be used in one or moresubsequent control channels; decoding the indicator channel; receivingthe one or more subsequent control channels; and decoding the one ormore subsequent control channels in accordance with the subcarrierspacing indicated by the indicator channel.

In one example, another method for wireless communication is described.The method may include transmitting, to a UE, an indicator channelidentifying at least a subcarrier spacing to be used in one or moresubsequent control channels; and transmitting the one or more subsequentcontrol channels in accordance with the subcarrier spacing indicated bythe indicator channel.

Apparatus including means for performing one or more of the precedingmethods for wireless communication is also described. Apparatusincluding a processor, memory in electronic communication with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory for performing one ormore of the preceding methods for wireless communication is alsodescribed. Non-transitory computer-readable mediums storingcomputer-executable code for performing one or more of the precedingmethods for wireless communication is also described.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the techniques and technicaladvantages of examples according to the disclosure in order that thedetailed description that follows may be better understood. Additionaltechniques and advantages will be described hereinafter. The conceptionand specific examples disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do notdepart from the scope of the appended claims. Characteristics of theconcepts disclosed herein, both their organization and method ofoperation, together with associated advantages will be better understoodfrom the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. Each of the figures is provided for the purpose ofillustration and description, and not as a definition of the limits ofthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentdisclosure may be realized by reference to the following drawings. Inthe appended figures, similar components or functions may have the samereference label. Further, various components of the same type may bedistinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a first time and frequency representation of a controlchannel (or control region), in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a second time and frequency representation of the controlchannel (or control region) shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with one ormore aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a time and frequency representation of a control channel(or control region), in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a time and frequency representation of a control channel(or control region), in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a time and frequency representation of a control channel(or control region), in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 7 shows a time and frequency representation of a control channel(or control region), in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows a time and frequency representation of a control channel(or control region), in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for wireless communication,in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for wirelesscommunication, in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of a UE for use in wireless communication,in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of a base station (e.g., a base stationforming part or all of an eNB) for use in wireless communication, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method for wirelesscommunication at a UE, in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method for wirelesscommunication at a base station, in accordance with one or more aspectsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method for wirelesscommunication at a UE, in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method for wirelesscommunication at a base station, in accordance with one or more aspectsof the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes techniques for providing a New Radio(NR) control channel with flexible numerology.

An NR control channel may include one or a plurality of base symbolperiods and one or a plurality of scaled symbol periods. Differentcontrol channel numerologies may be defined, for example, by differentcombinations of subcarrier spacing in the frequency domain and symbolperiod duration in the time domain. For example, a base (first) controlchannel numerology may be associated with a subcarrier spacing of 15 kHzand a symbol period duration, while a scaled (second) control channelnumerology may be associated with a subcarrier spacing of 30 kHz and asymbol period duration that is half the duration of the first symbolperiod duration, and a third control channel numerology may beassociated with a subcarrier spacing of 60 kHz and a symbol periodduration that is a quarter of the duration of the first symbol periodduration. A control channel may contain any combination of differentnumerologies. In one example, a control channel sequence may have one ormore instances of a base numerology as well as one or more instances ofother scaled numerologies. For example, the control channel sequence mayinclude scaled symbols having twice the subcarrier spacing of the basecontrol channel numerology. In another example, a scaled symbol may havefour times the subcarrier spacing of the base control channelnumerology. The control channel sequence may include other scaledsymbols as well, and the scaled symbols and base symbol may be arrangedin any order. In one example, the use of different numerologies within acontrol channel sequence may enable different UE to be addressed (viadifferent symbols having different numerologies).

In some examples, an indication identifies the UE-specific numerologyfor one or more UEs, and the indication may be transmitted for example,from a base station to one or more UEs. A UE may be configured toperform blind decoding of a control channel assuming the configurednumerology based on the indication. A base station may indicate a changein the control channel numerology sequence on a sub-frame basis or in amaster information block (MIB) and/or a system information block (SIB).

In some examples, an indicator channel identifies the numerologysequence in the next one or more control symbols, and the indicatorchannel may be transmitted (e.g., from a base station to one or moreUEs) before each change in the base station's control channel numerologysequence, at a boundary of each real or virtual base symbol period,before each of a number of groups of symbol periods, or before eachsymbol period.

The following description provides examples, and is not limiting of thescope, applicability, or examples set forth in the claims. Changes maybe made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. Various examples may omit,substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. Forinstance, the methods described may be performed in an order differentfrom that described, and various operations may be added, omitted, orcombined. Also, features described with respect to some examples may becombined in other examples.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system 100, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. The wirelesscommunications system 100 includes base stations 105 (e.g., gNodeBs(gNBs), and/or RHs), UEs 115, and a core network 130. In some examples,the wireless communications system 100 may be a LTE (or LTE-Advanced)network.

The core network 130 may provide user authentication, accessauthorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and otheraccess, routing, or mobility functions. At least some of the basestations 105 (e.g., eNodeBs (eNBs, network access devices, gNBs) 105-a,gNBs, or ANCs may interface with the core network 130 through backhaullinks 132 (e.g., S1, S2, etc.) and may perform radio configuration andscheduling for communication with the UEs 115. In various examples, theANCs 105-b may communicate, either directly or indirectly (e.g., throughcore network 130), with each other over backhaul links 134 (e.g., X1,X2, etc.), which may be wired or wireless communication links. Each ANC105-b may additionally or alternatively communicate with a number of UEs115 through a number of smart RHs 105-c. In an alternative configurationof the wireless communication system 100, the functionality of an ANC105-b may be provided by a radio head 105-c or distributed across theRHs 105-c of an eNB 105-a. In another alternative configuration of thewireless communication system 100, the RHs 105-c may be replaced withbase stations, and the ANCs 105—may be replaced by base stationcontrollers (or links to the core network 130).

The ANCs 105-b may wirelessly communicate with the UEs 115 via one ormore RHs 105-c, with each radio head 105-c having one or more antennas.Each of the RHs 105-c may provide communication coverage for arespective geographic coverage area 110. The geographic coverage area110 for a radio head 105-c may be divided into sectors making up only aportion of the coverage area (not shown). In some examples, the networkaccess devices 105 may be replaced with alternative network accessdevices, such as base transceiver stations, radio base stations, accesspoints, radio transceivers, NodeBs, eNBs, Home NodeBs, Home eNBs, etc.The wireless communication system 100 may include RHs 105-c (or basestations or other network access devices) of different types (e.g.,macro cell and/or small cell network access devices). The geographiccoverage areas 110 of the RHs 105-c or other network access devices mayoverlap. In some examples, different eNBs 105-a may be associated withdifferent radio access technologies.

In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may include a 5Gnetwork. In other examples, the wireless communication system 100 mayinclude a LTE/LTE-A network. The wireless communication system 100 mayin some cases be a heterogeneous network, in which different types ofeNBs provide coverage for various geographical regions. For example,each eNB 105-a or radio head 105-c may provide communication coveragefor a macro cell, a small cell, and/or other types of cell. The term“cell” is a 3GPP term that can be used to describe a base station, aradio head, a carrier or component carrier associated with a basestation or a radio head, or a coverage area (e.g., sector, etc.) of acarrier or base station, depending on context.

A macro cell may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., severalkilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs 115 withservice subscriptions with a network provider. A small cell may includea lower-powered radio head or base station, as compared with a macrocell, and may operate in the same or different frequency band(s) asmacro cells. Small cells may include pico cells, femto cells, and microcells according to various examples. A pico cell may cover a relativelysmaller geographic area and may allow unrestricted access by UEs 115with service subscriptions with a network provider. A femto cell mayadditionally or alternatively cover a relatively small geographic area(e.g., a home) and may provide restricted access by UEs 115 having anassociation with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a closed subscriber group(CSG), UEs for users in the home, and the like). An eNB for a macro cellmay be referred to as a macro eNB. An eNB for a small cell may bereferred to as a small cell eNB, a pico eNB, a femto eNB or a home eNB.An eNB may support one or multiple (e.g., two, three, four, and thelike) cells (e.g., component carriers). A gNB for a macro cell may bereferred to as a macro gNB. A gNB for a small cell may be referred to asa small cell gNB, a pico gNB, a femto gNB, or a home gNB. A gNB maysupport one or multiple (e.g., two, three, four, and the like) cells(e.g., component carriers). A UE may be able to communicate with varioustypes of base stations and network equipment including macro eNBs, smallcell eNBs, relay base stations, and the like.

The wireless communication system 100 may support synchronous orasynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, the eNBs 105-a and/orRHs 105-c may have similar frame timing, and transmissions fromdifferent eNBs 105-a and/or RHs 105-c may be approximately aligned intime. For asynchronous operation, the eNBs 105-a and/or RHs 105-c mayhave different frame timings, and transmissions from different eNBs105-a and/or RHs 105-c may not be aligned in time. The techniquesdescribed herein may be used for either synchronous or asynchronousoperations.

The communication networks that may accommodate some of the variousdisclosed examples may be packet-based networks that operate accordingto a layered protocol stack. In the user plane, communications at thebearer or Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer may be IP-based.A Radio Link Control (RLC) layer may in some cases perform packetsegmentation and reassembly to communicate over logical channels. AMedium Access Control (MAC) layer may perform priority handling andmultiplexing of logical channels into transport channels. The MAC layermay additionally or alternatively use Hybrid ARQ (HARD) to provideretransmission at the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. In thecontrol plane, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol layer mayprovide establishment, configuration, and maintenance of an RRCconnection between a UE 115 and a radio head 105-c, ANC 105-b, or corenetwork 130 supporting radio bearers for user plane data. At thePhysical (PHY) layer, transport channels may be mapped to physicalchannels.

Base stations 105 may wirelessly communicate with UEs 115 via one ormore base station antennas. Each base station 105 may providecommunication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area 110.Communication links 125 shown in wireless communications system 100 mayinclude uplink transmissions from a UE 115 to a base station 105, ordownlink transmissions, from a base station 105 to a UE 115. A UE 115may communicate with the core network 130 through communication link135. UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout the wireless communicationssystem 100, and each UE 115 may be stationary or mobile.

A UE 115 may additionally or alternatively include or be referred to bythose skilled in the art as a mobile station, a subscriber station, amobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobiledevice, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remotedevice, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobileterminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a useragent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology. AUE 115 may be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), awireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, atablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless localloop (WLL) station, a IoE device, or the like. A UE may be able tocommunicate with various types of eNBs 105-a, RHs 105-c, base stations,access points, or other network access devices, including macro eNBs,small cell eNBs, relay base stations, and the like. A UE mayadditionally or alternatively be able to communicate directly with otherUEs (e.g., using a peer-to-peer (P2P) protocol).

The communication links 125 shown in wireless communication system 100may include uplink (UL) channels from a UE 115 to a radio head 105-c,and/or downlink (DL) channels, from a radio head 105-c to a UE 115. Thedownlink channels may additionally or alternatively be called forwardlink channels, while the uplink channels may additionally oralternatively be called reverse link channels. Control information anddata may be multiplexed on an uplink channel or downlink according tovarious techniques. Control information and data may be multiplexed on adownlink channel, for example, using time division multiplexing (TDM)techniques, frequency division multiplexing (FDM) techniques, or hybridTDM-FDM techniques (e.g., as described with reference to FIGS. 3-8). Insome examples, the control information transmitted during a transmissiontime interval (TTI) or slot of a downlink channel may be distributedbetween different control regions in a cascaded manner (e.g., between acommon control region and one or more UE-specific control regions).

Each communication link 125 may include one or more carriers, where eachcarrier may be a signal made up of multiple sub-carriers (e.g., waveformsignals of different frequencies) modulated according to one or moreradio access technologies. Each modulated signal may be sent on adifferent sub-carrier and may carry control information (e.g., referencesignals, control channels, etc.), overhead information, user data, etc.The communication links 125 may transmit bidirectional communicationsusing Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) techniques (e.g., using pairedspectrum resources) or Time Division Duplexing (TDD) techniques (e.g.,using unpaired spectrum resources). Frame structures for FDD (e.g.,frame structure type 1) and TDD (e.g., frame structure type 2) may bedefined.

In some examples of the wireless communication system 100, the RHs 105-cand/or UEs 115 may include multiple antennas for employing antennadiversity schemes to improve communication quality and reliabilitybetween RHs 105-c and UEs 115. Additionally or alternatively, RHs 105-cand/or UEs 115 may employ multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO)techniques that may take advantage of multi-path environments totransmit multiple spatial layers carrying the same or different codeddata.

The wireless communication system 100 may support operation on multiplecells or carriers, a feature which may be referred to as carrieraggregation (CA) or multi-carrier operation. A carrier may additionallyor alternatively be referred to as a component carrier (CC), a layer, achannel, etc. The terms “carrier,” “component carrier,” “cell,” and“channel” may be used interchangeably herein. A UE 115 may be configuredwith multiple downlink CCs and one or more uplink CCs for carrieraggregation. Carrier aggregation may be used with both FDD and TDDcomponent carriers.

In an LTE/LTE-A network, a UE 115 may be configured to communicate usingup to five CCs when operating in a carrier aggregation mode ordual-connectivity mode. One or more of the CCs may be configured as a DLCC, and one or more of the CCs may be configured as a UL CC. Also, oneof the CCs allocated to a UE 115 may be configured as a primary CC(PCC), and the remaining CCs allocated to the UE 115 may be configuredas secondary CCs (SCCs).

In some examples, a UE 115 may include a wireless communication manager170. In some examples, the wireless communication manager 170 may beused to receive an indication of a control channel subcarrier spacing tobe used by a UE including the apparatus; to configure the UE to use thecontrol channel subcarrier spacing based on the indication; to receive acontrol message; and to decode at least a portion of the control messageusing the control channel subcarrier spacing. Additionally oralternatively, the wireless communication manager 170 may be used toreceive an indicator channel identifying at least a subcarrier spacingto be used in one or more subsequent control channels; to decode theindicator channel; to receive the one or more subsequent controlchannels; and to decode the one or more subsequent control channels inaccordance with the subcarrier spacing indicated by the indicatorchannel.

In some examples, a base station 105 may include a wirelesscommunication manager 175. The wireless communication manager 175 may beused to transmit, to a UE, an indication of a control channel subcarrierspacing to be used by the UE; and to transmit a control message having asubcarrier spacing in accordance with the indication. Additionally oralternatively, the base station wireless communication manager 1020 maybe used to transmit, to a UE, an indicator channel identifying at leasta subcarrier spacing to be used in one or more subsequent controlchannels; and to transmit the one or more subsequent control channels inaccordance with the subcarrier spacing indicated by the indicatorchannel.

FIG. 2 shows a first time and frequency representation 200 of a controlchannel 205 (or control region), in accordance with various aspects ofthe present disclosure. The control channel 205 may include one or aplurality of symbol periods 210. In some examples, the control channel205 may be transmitted as part of a subframe (e.g., transmitted in thefirst one or more symbol periods of a subframe). By way of example, thecontrol channel 205 is shown to include four symbol periods 210. A basestation may transmit control messages to one or more UEs on the controlchannel 205.

In some examples, different UEs within a wireless communication system(e.g., different UEs 115 within the wireless communication system 100)may communicate with a same base station (e.g., a base station 105) ordifferent base stations using different control channel numerologies.Different control channel numerologies may be defined, for example, bydifferent combinations of subcarrier spacing in the frequency domain andsymbol period duration in the time domain. For example, a base (orfirst) control channel numerology may be associated with a subcarrierspacing of 15 kHz and the symbol period duration shown in FIG. 2, whilea scaled (or second) control channel numerology may be associated with asubcarrier spacing of 30 kHz and a symbol period duration that is halfthe duration of the symbol period duration shown in FIG. 2.

In some cases (e.g., in millimeter wave applications), scaled controlchannel numerologies may be useful for UE control message multiplexing.In some millimeter wave applications (and other applications), UEcontrol messages may not be multiplexed within the same symbol period,but may be multiplexed in different symbol periods.

In some examples, the base control channel numerology shown in FIG. 2may be used for UEs that are near an edge of a cell coverage area. UEsthat are near an edge of a cell coverage area may require a longersymbol period, thus smaller subcarrier spacing, due to the increase inpropagation delay of signals.

FIG. 3 shows a second time and frequency representation 300 of thecontrol channel 205 (or control region) shown in FIG. 2, in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure. In FIG. 3, the controlchannel 205 is configured in accordance with a scaled (or second)control channel numerology. By way of example, the scaled controlchannel numerology may have a subcarrier spacing that is two times thesubcarrier spacing of the base control channel numerology shown in FIG.2 (i.e., the subcarrier spacing of the scaled control channel numerologymay be finer or more granular than the subcarrier spacing of the basecontrol channel numerology shown in FIG. 2), and a symbol periodduration that is half the symbol period duration of the base controlchannel numerology shown in FIG. 2. When configured as shown in FIG. 3,the control channel 205 may include eight symbol periods 310.

In some examples, the scaled control channel numerology shown in FIG. 3may be used for UEs that are closer to a base station than UEs for whichthe base control channel numerology shown in FIG. 2 is used. UEs thatare closer to a base station may not need to account for delays due totheir proximity to the base station. In order to conserve andefficiently use resources, the symbol period may be shorter, thus thesubcarrier spacing larger, than that used for UEs farther from the basestation.

FIG. 4 shows a time and frequency representation 400 of a controlchannel 405 (or control region), in accordance with various aspects ofthe present disclosure. The control channel 405 may include one or aplurality of base symbol periods 410, and one or a plurality of scaledsymbol periods 415 and 420. In some examples, the control channel 405may be transmitted as part of a subframe (e.g., transmitted in the firstone or more symbol periods of a subframe). The base symbol periods 410may be defined by a base control channel numerology, and the scaledsymbol periods 415 and 420 may be defined by one or more scaled controlchannel numerologies. The one or more scaled symbol periods 415 and 420may include a first scaled symbol period 415 having twice the subcarrierspacing of the base control channel numerology (e.g., 2×15 kHz=30 kHz),and a symbol period duration that is half the duration of the basesymbol period 410. In some examples, the one or more scaled symbolperiods may additionally or alternatively include a second scaled symbolperiod 420 having four times the subcarrier spacing of the base controlchannel numerology (e.g., 4×15 kHz=60 kHz), and a symbol period durationthat is one quarter the duration of the base symbol period 410. Inalternative configurations, the control channel 405 may have additionaltypes of scaled symbol periods.

When a base station uses multiple numerologies in a single controlchannel 405, there may be one or a plurality of different subcarrierspacings within the individual control channel 405 as described above.The subcarrier spacing may vary in a single control channel on a singlefrequency band because control messages, unlike data transmissions, aretypically small enough to fit into one single symbol period. Further,the control channel may be broadcast to multiple UEs within a cell andmay contain different information for each UE within the cell. Thecontrol channel may be able to communicate unique information to each ofthe multiple UEs by using multiple numerologies that are UE specific ina single control channel. Thus, each UE may receive a unique controlmessage through the communication of a single control channel. Thisprovides an advantage over transmissions that must be directed to asingle device due to the use of one subcarrier spacing.

By way of example, the control channel 405 is shown to have a controlchannel numerology sequence in which a symbol period 410 is followed bytwo symbol periods 415, then one symbol period 410, then one symbolperiod 415, then two symbol periods 420. A UE configured according tothe base control channel numerology may be addressed (e.g., a basestation may transmit a control message to the UE) in one of the symbolperiods 410. A UE configured according to the first scaled controlchannel numerology may be addressed in one of the symbol periods 415. AUE configured according to the second scaled control channel numerologymay be addressed in one of the symbol periods 420.

In some examples of the control channel 405, a symbol period defined bythe base control channel numerology (e.g., the sequentially first symbolperiod 410) may be designated as a common control symbol period in whichcontrol messages may be sent to UEs nominally operating in accordancewith different control channel numerologies. The location of the commoncontrol symbol period may be indicated to UEs (e.g., by a base station)in a SIB or MIB, for example.

In some examples, a UE configured to operate in accordance with acontrol channel numerology may attempt blind decoding within the controlchannel 405 as if all of the base symbol periods are configured inaccordance with the control channel numerology used by the UE. The UEmay blind decode the control channel because unlike data channeltransmissions, there may not be a previous downlink assignment with acontrol message that indicates the subcarrier spacing to be used by theUE.

In some examples, a UE (e.g., a UE 115 of the wireless communicationsystem 100) may be configured to receive a control message in accordancewith a selected control channel numerology. A base station may configurea UE to use a selected control channel numerology via RRC signaling,PDCCH signaling, or a message transmitted as part of a UE random accessprocedure. RRC signaling may be advantageous in that it is transmittedas data, and may be acknowledged (ACK'd) or non-acknowledged (NACK'd) bya UE. This may enable a base station to determine that the UE hasreceived a control channel numerology configuration and is ready toreceive control messages in accordance with the control channelnumerology. In some examples, a UE may request or indicate a desiredcontrol channel numerology in a PUCCH transmission, or as part of (or inassociation with) channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback transmittedto a base station.

When a base station configures a UE to use a new control channelnumerology via PDCCH signaling, the base station may not receive anacknowledgment (ACK) or a non-acknowledgement (NACK) from the UEindicating that the UE has received the new control channel numerologyconfiguration. In these cases, the base station may continue to transmitcontrol messages to the UE using a prior (or base) control channelnumerology, or using the prior (or base) control channel numerology inaddition to the new control channel numerology (e.g., duplicate controlmessage may be transmitted to the UE), until such time that the UEconfirms that it will receive control messages in accordance with thenew control channel numerology.

In some examples, a base station may dynamically change a controlchannel numerology sequence (e.g., the base station may dynamicallychange the type or order of symbol periods used to transmit controlmessages on a control channel (e.g., from the control channel numerologysequence shown in FIG. 2, to the control channel numerology sequenceshown in FIG. 3 or 4)). In these examples, the control channelnumerology sequence may be changed (or indicated) on a subframe or perslot basis. A UE may need to perform hypothesis testing to determine thecontrol channel numerology sequence used in a subframe; or when a UE isconfigured to use a certain control channel numerology, the UE mayassume that all of the symbol periods of a control channel areconfigured in accordance with its configured control channel numerology,and the UE may perform a number of blind decodes to identify a symbolperiod that may contain a control message for the UE. In some examples,a UE may use reference signal (RS) detection to reduce control messagesearch complexity (e.g., if the UE determines that the reference signalsof a symbol period are not transmitted in the right locations (or usinga format that coincides with its configured control channel numerology),the UE may cease decoding a symbol period and determine whether a nextsymbol period may contain a control message for the UE. In someexamples, rules may be applied to reduce a UE's control message searchspace (e.g., symbol periods associated with a scaled control channelnumerology (e.g., 2× or 4× a base subcarrier spacing) may occur withincertain base symbol periods and not in other base symbol periods).

In some examples, a base station may semi-dynamically change a controlchannel numerology sequence. In these examples, the control channelnumerology sequence is kept the same until the base station explicitlysignals a change in the control channel numerology sequence. In someexamples, a change in the control channel numerology sequence may bechanged and/or indicated in a MIB or a SIB. When a base stationexplicitly signals (or signals a change in) its control channelnumerology sequence, a UE may reduce its control message search space tosymbol periods configured in accordance with the UE's control channelnumerology.

In some examples, an indicator channel may be used to dynamicallyindicate a base station's control channel numerology sequence. In someexamples, the indicator channel may be defined in a symbol period (e.g.,an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol period)having a relatively short duration and/or may carry relatively few bitsof information. An indicator channel carrying relatively few bits ofinformation may be less prone to the effects of inter-symbolinterference (ISI) or inter-carrier interference (ICI). The numerologyassociated with the indicator channel may be static (i.e., fixed).

An indicator channel may indicate a base station's control channelnumerology sequence for one or a plurality of symbol periods, forexample. A UE may decode an indicator channel to bootstrap the controlchannel numerology of the next one or more symbol periods of a controlchannel.

In some examples, multiple indicator channels may be used, and in someexamples, an indicator channel may be transmitted before thetransmission of each symbol period of a control channel, to indicate thenumerology of the next symbol period.

FIG. 5 shows a time and frequency representation 500 of a controlchannel 505 (or control region), in accordance with various aspects ofthe present disclosure. The control channel 505 may include a pluralityof symbol periods 510, 515, or 520. In some examples, the controlchannel 505 may be transmitted as part of a subframe (e.g., transmittedin the first one or more symbol periods of a subframe). By way ofexample, the control channel 505 is shown to include two base symbolperiods 510, followed by a first scaled symbol period 515 having halfthe duration of the base symbol period 510, followed by five of a secondsymbol period 520 having one quarter the duration of the base symbolperiod 510. A base station may transmit control messages to one or moreUEs on the control channel 505.

In FIG. 5, an indicator channel may be transmitted (e.g., from a basestation to one or more UEs) before each change in the base station'scontrol channel numerology sequence. Thus, a first indicator channel 525is transmitted before the base symbol period 510, a second indicatorchannel 530 is transmitted before the first scaled symbol period 515,and a third indicator channel 535 is transmitted before the first of thesecond scaled symbol periods 520. A UE may assume that the basestation's control channel numerology sequence remains constant until theUE receives a next-transmitted indicator channel.

FIG. 6 shows a time and frequency representation 600 of a controlchannel 605 (or control region), in accordance with various aspects ofthe present disclosure. The control channel 605 may include a pluralityof symbol periods 610, 615, or 620. In some examples, the controlchannel 605 may be transmitted as part of a subframe (e.g., transmittedin the first one or more symbol periods of a subframe). By way ofexample, the control channel 605 is shown to include a base symbolperiod 610, followed by two of a first scaled symbol period 615 havinghalf the duration of a base symbol period 610, followed by four of asecond scaled symbol period 620 having one quarter the duration of abase symbol period 610, followed by another base symbol period 610. Abase station may transmit control messages to one or more UEs on thecontrol channel 605.

In FIG. 6, an indicator channel 625, 630, 635, or 640 may be transmitted(e.g., from a base station to one or more UEs) at a boundary of eachreal or virtual base symbol period 610 (where a virtual base symbolperiod is a base symbol period 610 that could have been transmitted ifthe base station had divided the control channel 605 into consecutivebase symbol periods 610 instead of further dividing some base symbolperiods into smaller scaled symbol periods). An advantage of theindicator channels transmitted within the control region 605, over theindicator channels transmitted within the control region 505, may betheir fixed, periodic location, which may make it easier for UEs to findand decode the indicator channels, and enable a UE to enter a sleepstate during a base symbol period that does not include one or moresymbol periods configured in accordance with a UE's currently usedcontrol channel numerology.

FIG. 7 shows a time and frequency representation 700 of a controlchannel 705 (or control region), in accordance with various aspects ofthe present disclosure. The control channel 705 may include a pluralityof symbol periods 710, 715, or 720. In some examples, the controlchannel 705 may be transmitted as part of a subframe (e.g., transmittedin the first one or more symbol periods of a subframe). By way ofexample, the control channel 705 is shown to include a base symbolperiod 710, followed by two of a first scaled symbol period 715 havinghalf the duration of a base symbol period 710, followed by four of asecond scaled symbol period 720 having one quarter the duration of abase symbol period 710, followed by another base symbol period 710. Abase station may transmit control messages to one or more UEs on thecontrol channel 705.

In FIG. 7, an indicator channel 725 or 730 is transmitted (e.g., from abase station to one or more UEs) before each of a number of groups ofsymbol periods. For example, an indicator channel 725 or 730 may betransmitted to indicate a control channel numerology sequence for a nextfour symbol periods of the control channel 705, or for a definedduration of symbol periods, or for an arbitrary number of symbolperiods. An advantage of the indicator channels transmitted within thecontrol region 705 is a reduction in the number of indicator channelstransmitted (and received and decoded by UEs).

FIG. 8 shows a time and frequency representation 800 of a controlchannel 805 (or control region), in accordance with various aspects ofthe present disclosure. The control channel 805 may include a pluralityof symbol periods 810, 815, or 820. In some examples, the controlchannel 805 may be transmitted as part of a subframe (e.g., transmittedin the first one or more symbol periods of a subframe). By way ofexample, the control channel 805 is shown to include a base symbolperiod 810, followed by two of a first scaled symbol period 815 havinghalf the duration of a base symbol period 810, followed by another basesymbol period 810, followed by a second scaled symbol period 820 havingone quarter the duration of a base symbol period 810. A base station maytransmit control messages to one or more UEs on the control channel 805.

In FIG. 8, an indicator channel 825, 830, 835, 840, or 845 istransmitted (e.g., from a base station to one or more UEs) before eachsymbol period.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram 900 of an apparatus 915 for wirelesscommunication, in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure. The apparatus 915 may be an example of aspects of a UE 115described with reference to FIG. 1. The apparatus 915 may include areceiver 910, a UE wireless communication manager 920, and a transmitter930. The apparatus 915 may also include a processor. Each of thesecomponents may be in communication with each other.

The receiver 910 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels or data channels). Received information may be passedto other components of the apparatus 915, including the UE wirelesscommunication manager 920. The receiver 910 may be an example of aspectsof the UE transceiver(s) 1130 described with reference to FIG. 11. Thereceiver 910 may include or be associated with a single antenna or aplurality of antennas.

The UE wireless communication manager 920 may be used to manage one ormore aspects of wireless communication for the apparatus 915. In someexamples, part of the UE wireless communication manager 920 may beincorporated into or shared with the receiver 910 or the transmitter930. The UE wireless communication manager 920 may be used to receive anindication of a control channel subcarrier spacing to be used by a UEincluding the apparatus; to configure the UE to use the control channelsubcarrier spacing based on the indication; to receive a controlmessage; and to decode at least a portion of the control message usingthe control channel subcarrier spacing. Additionally or alternatively,the UE wireless communication manager 920 may be used to receive anindicator channel identifying at least a subcarrier spacing to be usedin one or more subsequent control channels; to decode the indicatorchannel; to receive the one or more subsequent control channels; and todecode the one or more subsequent control channels in accordance withthe subcarrier spacing indicated by the indicator channel. The UEwireless communication manager 920 may also be used to perform variousof the operations described with reference to FIG. 13 or 15. In someexamples, the UE wireless communication manager 920 may be an example ofthe wireless communication manager 170 described with reference to FIG.1.

The transmitter 930 may transmit signals received from other componentsof the apparatus 915, including the UE wireless communication manager920. In some examples, the transmitter 930 may be collocated with thereceiver 910 in a transceiver. The transmitter 930 may be an example ofaspects of the UE transceiver(s) 1130 described with reference to FIG.11. The transmitter 930 may include or be associated with a singleantenna or a plurality of antennas.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram 1000 of an apparatus 1005 for wirelesscommunication, in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure. The apparatus 1005 may be an example of aspects of a basestation 105 described with reference to FIG. 1. The apparatus 1005 mayinclude a receiver 1010, a base station wireless communication manager1020, and a transmitter 1030. The apparatus 1005 may also include aprocessor. Each of these components may be in communication with eachother.

The receiver 1010 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels or data channels). Received information may be passedto other components of the apparatus 1005, including the base stationwireless communication manager 1020. The receiver 1010 may be an exampleof aspects of the base station transceiver(s) 1230 described withreference to FIG. 12. The receiver 1010 may include or be associatedwith a single antenna or a plurality of antennas.

The base station wireless communication manager 1020 may be used tomanage one or more aspects of wireless communication for the apparatus1005. In some examples, part of the base station wireless communicationmanager 1020 may be incorporated into or shared with the receiver 1010or the transmitter 1030. The base station wireless communication manager1020 may be used to transmit, to a UE, an indication of a controlchannel subcarrier spacing to be used by the UE; and to transmit acontrol message having a subcarrier spacing in accordance with theindication. Additionally or alternatively, the base station wirelesscommunication manager 1020 may be used to transmit, to a UE, anindicator channel identifying at least a subcarrier spacing to be usedin one or more subsequent control channels; and to transmit the one ormore subsequent control channels in accordance with the subcarrierspacing indicated by the indicator channel. The base station wirelesscommunication manager 1020 may also be used to perform various of theoperations described with reference to FIG. 14 or 16. In some examples,the base station wireless communication manager 1020 may be an exampleof the wireless communication manager 175 described with reference toFIG. 1.

The transmitter 1030 may transmit signals received from other componentsof the apparatus 1015, including the base station wireless communicationmanager 1020. In some examples, the transmitter 1030 may be collocatedwith the receiver 1010 in a transceiver. The transmitter 1030 may be anexample of aspects of the UE transceiver(s) 1230 described withreference to FIG. 12. The transmitter 1030 may include or be associatedwith a single antenna or a plurality of antennas.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram 1100 of a UE 1115 for use in wirelesscommunication, in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure. The UE 1115 may be include or be part of a personal computer(e.g., a laptop computer, a netbook computer, a tablet computer, etc.),a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a PDA, a DVR, an internetappliance, a gaming console, an e-reader, etc. The UE 1115 may, in someexamples, have an internal power supply (not shown), such as a smallbattery, to facilitate mobile operation. In some examples, the UE 1115may be an example of aspects of one or more of the UEs 115 describedwith reference to FIG. 1, or aspects of the apparatus 915 described withreference to FIG. 9. The UE 1115 may be configured to implement at leastsome of the UE or apparatus techniques and functions described withreference to other figures.

The UE 1115 may include at least one processor (represented by UEprocessor(s) 1110), a UE memory 1120, at least one UE transceiver(represented by UE transceiver(s) 1130), at least one antenna(represented by UE antenna(s) 1140), or a UE wireless communicationmanager 1150. Each of these components may be in communication with eachother, directly or indirectly, over one or more buses 1165.

The UE memory 1120 may include random access memory (RAM) or read-onlymemory (ROM). The UE memory 1120 may store computer-readable,computer-executable code 1125 containing instructions that areconfigured to, when executed, cause the UE processor(s) 1110 to performvarious functions described herein related to wireless communication.Alternatively, the computer-executable code 1125 may not be directlyexecutable by the UE processor(s) 1110 but be configured to cause the UE1115 (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform various of thefunctions described herein.

The UE processor(s) 1110 may include one or more intelligent hardwaredevices, (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, anASIC, etc.). The UE processor(s) 1110 may process information receivedthrough the UE transceiver(s) 1130 or information to be sent to the UEtransceiver(s) 1130 for transmission through the UE antenna(s) 1140. TheUE processor(s) 1110 may handle, alone or in connection with the UEwireless communication manager 1150, various aspects of communicatingover (or managing communications over) one or more radio frequencyspectrum bands.

The UE transceiver(s) 1130 may be configured to modulate packets andprovide the modulated packets to the UE antenna(s) 1140 fortransmission. The UE transceiver(s) 1130 may also demodulate packetsreceived from the UE antenna(s) 1140. The UE transceiver(s) 1130 may, insome examples, be implemented as one or more UE transmitters and one ormore separate UE receivers. The UE transceiver(s) 1130 may be configuredto communicate bi-directionally, via the UE antenna(s) 1140, with one ormore access points (e.g., eNBs, base stations, etc.). While the UE 1115may include a single antenna, there may be examples in which the UE 1115may include multiple antennas.

The UE wireless communication manager 1150 may be configured tocoordinate or manage wireless communications for the UE 1115. The UEwireless communication manager 1150, or portions of it, may include aprocessor, or some or all of the functions of the UE wirelesscommunication manager 1150 may be performed by one or more of the UEprocessor(s) 1110 or in connection with the UE processor(s) 1110. Insome examples, the UE wireless communication manager 1150 may be anexample of the wireless communication manager 170 or 920 described withreference to FIG. 1 or 9.

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram 1200 of a base station 1205 (e.g., a basestation forming part or all of an eNB) for use in wirelesscommunication, in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure. In some examples, the base station 1205 may be an example ofaspects of one or more of the base stations 105 described with referenceto FIG. 1, or aspects of the apparatus 1005 described with reference toFIG. 10. The base station 1205 may be configured to implement orfacilitate at least some of the base station techniques and functionsdescribed with reference to other figures.

The base station 1205 may include a base station processor 1210, a basestation memory 1220, at least one base station transceiver (representedby base station transceiver(s) 1250), at least one base station antenna(represented by base station antenna(s) 1255), or a base stationwireless communication manager 1260. The base station 1205 may alsoinclude one or more of an access point communicator 1230 or a networkcommunicator 1240. Each of these components may be in communication witheach other, directly or indirectly, over one or more buses 1265.

The base station memory 1220 may include RAM or ROM. The base stationmemory 1220 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 1225containing instructions that are configured to, when executed, cause thebase station processor 1210 to perform various functions describedherein related to wireless communication. Alternatively, thecomputer-executable code 1225 may not be directly executable by the basestation processor 1210 but be configured to cause the base station 1205(e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform various of the functionsdescribed herein.

The base station processor 1210 may include an intelligent hardwaredevice, (e.g., a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, etc.). The basestation processor 1210 may process information received through the basestation transceiver(s) 1250, the access point communicator 1230, or thenetwork communicator 1240. The base station processor 1210 may alsoprocess information to be sent to the transceiver(s) 1250 fortransmission through the antenna(s) 1255, to the access pointcommunicator 1230, for transmission to one or more other access points(e.g., base station 1205-a or WLAN access point 1235), or to the networkcommunicator 1240 for transmission to a core network 1245, which may bean example of one or more aspects of the core network 130 described withreference to FIG. 1. The base station processor 1210 may handle, aloneor in connection with the base station wireless communication manager1260, various aspects of communicating over (or managing communicationsover) one or more radio frequency spectrum bands.

The base station transceiver(s) 1250 may include a modem configured tomodulate packets and provide the modulated packets to the base stationantenna(s) 1255 for transmission, and to demodulate packets receivedfrom the base station antenna(s) 1255. The base station transceiver(s)1250 may, in some examples, be implemented as one or more base stationtransmitters and one or more separate base station receivers. The basestation transceiver(s) 1250 may be configured to communicatebi-directionally, via the antenna(s) 1255, with one or more UEs orapparatuses, such as one or more of the UEs 115 or 915 described withreference to FIG. 1 or 9, or one of the apparatus 1005 described withreference to FIG. 10. The base station 1205 may, for example, includemultiple base station antennas 1255 (e.g., an antenna array). The basestation 1205 may communicate with the core network 1245 through thenetwork communicator 1240. The base station 1205 may also communicatewith other access points, such as the base station 1205-a and the WLANaccess point 1235, using the access point communicator 1230.

The base station wireless communication manager 1260 may be configuredto perform or control some or all of the base station techniques orfunctions described with reference to other figures. The base stationwireless communication manager 1260, or portions of it, may include aprocessor, or some or all of the functions of the base station wirelesscommunication manager 1260 may be performed by the base stationprocessor 1210 or in connection with the base station processor 1210. Insome examples, the base station wireless communication manager 1260 maybe an example of the wireless communication manager 175 or 1020described with reference to FIG. 1 or 10.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1300 forwireless communication at a UE, in accordance with various aspects ofthe present disclosure. For clarity, the method 1300 is described belowwith reference to aspects of one or more of the UEs 115 or 1115described with reference to FIG. 1 or 11, or aspects of the apparatus915 described with reference to FIG. 9. In some examples, a UE mayexecute one or more sets of codes to control the functional elements ofthe UE to perform the functions described below. Additionally oralternatively, the UE may perform one or more of the functions describedbelow using special-purpose hardware.

At block 1305, the method 1300 may include receiving, at a UE, anindication of a control channel subcarrier spacing to be used by the UE.In some examples, the indication may be UE-specific. In some examples,receiving the indication may include receiving the indication via RRCsignaling, or receiving the indication via PDCCH signaling, or receivingthe indication via a UE random access procedure, or receiving theindication in response to a request by the UE. In some examples, therequest may be included in a PUCCH or in CQI feedback. The operation(s)at block 1305 may be performed using the wireless communication manager170, 920, or 1150 described with reference to FIG. 1, 9, or 11.

At block 1310, the method 1300 may include configuring the UE to use thecontrol channel subcarrier spacing based on the indication. Theoperation(s) at block 1310 may be performed using the wirelesscommunication manager 170, 920, or 1150 described with reference to FIG.1, 9, or 11.

At block 1315, the method 1300 may include receiving a control message.In some examples, the control message may be configured with both thecontrol channel subcarrier spacing indicated by the indication and aprevious control channel subcarrier spacing. The operation(s) at block1315 may be performed using the wireless communication manager 170, 920,or 1150 described with reference to FIG. 1, 9, or 11.

At block 1320, the method 1300 may include decoding at least a portionof the control message using the control channel subcarrier spacing. Insome examples, decoding at least the portion of the control message mayinclude blindly decoding the control message using the control channelsubcarrier spacing, or decoding the control message in accordance topredefined rules regarding a sequence of control channel subcarrierspacing in the control message. In some examples, the method may includeperforming RS detection to reduce a complexity of the decoding. Theoperation(s) at block 1320 may be performed using the wirelesscommunication manager 170, 920, or 1150 described with reference to FIG.1, 9, or 11.

In some examples of the method 1300, a sequence of control channelsubcarrier spacing of the control message may be changed dynamically. Insome examples, a sequence of control channel subcarrier spacing of thecontrol message may be changed semi-dynamically. In some examples, themethod 1300 may include receiving a sequence indication, indicating asequence of control channel subcarrier spacing of the control message.In some examples, the sequence indication may be received via a MIB or aSIB.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1400 forwireless communication at a base station, in accordance with variousaspects of the present disclosure. For clarity, the method 1400 isdescribed below with reference to aspects of one or more of the basestations 105 or 1205 described with reference to FIG. 1 or 12, oraspects of the apparatus 1005 described with reference to FIG. 10. Insome examples, a base station may execute one or more sets of codes tocontrol the functional elements of the base station to perform thefunctions described below. Additionally or alternatively, the basestation may perform one or more of the functions described below usingspecial-purpose hardware.

At block 1405, the method 1400 may include transmitting, to a UE, anindication of a control channel subcarrier spacing to be used by the UE.In some examples, the indication may be UE-specific. In some examples,transmitting the indication may include transmitting the indication viaRRC signaling, or transmitting the indication via PDCCH signaling, ortransmitting the indication via a UE random access procedure, ortransmitting the indication in response to a request by the UE. In someexamples, the request may be received in a PUCCH or in CQI feedback. Theoperation(s) at block 1405 may be performed using the wirelesscommunication manager 175, 1020, or 1260 described with reference toFIG. 1, 10, or 12.

At block 1410, the method 1400 may include transmitting a controlmessage having a subcarrier spacing in accordance with the indication.In some examples, the control message may be configured with both thecontrol channel subcarrier spacing indicated by the indication and aprevious control channel subcarrier spacing. The operation(s) at block1410 may be performed using the wireless communication manager 175,1020, or 1260 described with reference to FIG. 1, 10, or 12.

In some examples, the method 1400 may include changing a sequence ofcontrol channel subcarrier spacing of the control message dynamically.In some examples, the method 1400 may include changing a sequence ofcontrol channel subcarrier spacing of the control messagesemi-dynamically. In some examples, the method 1400 may includetransmitting a sequence indication, indicating a sequence of controlchannel subcarrier spacing of the control message. In some examples, thesequence indication may be transmitted via a MIB or a SIB.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1500 forwireless communication at a UE, in accordance with various aspects ofthe present disclosure. For clarity, the method 1500 is described belowwith reference to aspects of one or more of the UEs 115 or 1115described with reference to FIG. 1 or 11, or aspects of the apparatus915 described with reference to FIG. 9. In some examples, a UE mayexecute one or more sets of codes to control the functional elements ofthe UE to perform the functions described below. Additionally oralternatively, the UE may perform one or more of the functions describedbelow using special-purpose hardware.

At block 1505, the method 1500 may include receiving, at a UE, anindicator channel identifying at least a subcarrier spacing to be usedin one or more subsequent control channels. In some examples, thesubcarrier spacing of the indicator channel may be fixed. In someexamples, the indicator channel may be received at a boundary of a basesubcarrier spacing, wherein the base subcarrier spacing is predefinedand constant. In some examples, the indicator channel may be receivedbefore each switch in control channel subcarrier spacing. In someexamples, the indicator channel may further indicate a sequence ofsubcarrier spacing to be used in the one or more subsequent controlchannels. In some examples, the indicator channel may be received beforea start of each symbol in the one or more control channels. Theoperation(s) at block 1505 may be performed using the wirelesscommunication manager 170, 920, or 1150 described with reference to FIG.1, 9, or 11.

At block 1510, the method 1500 may include decoding the indicatorchannel. The operation(s) at block 1510 may be performed using thewireless communication manager 170, 920, or 1150 described withreference to FIG. 1, 9, or 11.

At block 1515, the method 1500 may include receiving the one or moresubsequent control channels. The operation(s) at block 1515 may beperformed using the wireless communication manager 170, 920, or 1150described with reference to FIG. 1, 9, or 11.

At block 1520, the method 1500 may include decoding the one or moresubsequent control channels in accordance with the subcarrier spacingindicated by the indicator channel. The operation(s) at block 1520 maybe performed using the wireless communication manager 170, 920, or 1150described with reference to FIG. 1, 9, or 11.

In some examples of the method 1500, a sequence of control channelsubcarrier spacing of the control message may be changed dynamically. Insome examples, a sequence of control channel subcarrier spacing of thecontrol message may be changed semi-dynamically. In some examples, themethod 1300 may include receiving a sequence indication, indicating asequence of control channel subcarrier spacing of the control message.In some examples, the sequence indication may be received via a MIB or aSIB.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1600 forwireless communication at a base station, in accordance with variousaspects of the present disclosure. For clarity, the method 1600 isdescribed below with reference to aspects of one or more of the basestations 105 or 1205 described with reference to FIG. 1 or 12, oraspects of the apparatus 1005 described with reference to FIG. 10. Insome examples, a base station may execute one or more sets of codes tocontrol the functional elements of the base station to perform thefunctions described below. Additionally or alternatively, the basestation may perform one or more of the functions described below usingspecial-purpose hardware.

At block 1605, the method 1600 may include transmitting, to a UE, anindicator channel identifying at least a subcarrier spacing to be usedin one or more subsequent control channels. In some examples, thesubcarrier spacing of the indicator channel may be fixed. In someexamples, the indicator channel may be transmitted at a boundary of abase subcarrier spacing, wherein the base subcarrier spacing ispredefined and constant. In some examples, the indicator channel may betransmitted before each switch in control channel subcarrier spacing. Insome examples, the indicator channel may further indicate a sequence ofsubcarrier spacing to be used in the one or more subsequent controlchannels. In some examples, the indicator channel may be transmittedbefore a start of each symbol in the one or more control channels. Theoperation(s) at block 1605 may be performed using the wirelesscommunication manager 175, 1020, or 1260 described with reference toFIG. 1, 10, or 12.

At block 1610, the method 1600 may include transmitting the one or moresubsequent control channels in accordance with the subcarrier spacingindicated by the indicator channel. The operation(s) at block 1610 maybe performed using the wireless communication manager 175, 1020, or 1260described with reference to FIG. 1, 10, or 12.

The methods 1300, 1400, 1500, and 1600 described with reference to FIGS.13, 14, 15, and 16 may provide for wireless communication. It should benoted that the methods 1300, 1400, 1500, and 1600 are just exampleimplementations, and the operations of the methods 1300, 1400, 1500, and1600 may be rearranged or otherwise modified such that otherimplementations are possible. In some examples, aspects of the methods1300 and 1500 may be combined. In some examples, aspects of the methods1400 and 1600 may be combined.

Techniques described herein may be used for various wirelesscommunication systems such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, andother systems. The terms “system” and “network” are often usedinterchangeably. A CDMA system may implement a radio technology such asCDMA2000, Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), etc. CDMA2000covers IS-2000, IS-95, and IS-856 standards. IS-2000 Releases 0 and Amay be referred to as CDMA2000 1×, 1×, etc. IS-856 (TIA-856) may bereferred to as CDMA2000 1×EV-DO, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), etc. UTRAincludes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. A TDMA systemmay implement a radio technology such as Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM). An OFDMA system may implement a radio technologysuch as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), IEEE 802.11(Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM™, etc. UTRA andE-UTRA are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS).3GPP LTE and LTE-A are new releases of UMTS that use E-UTRA. UTRA,E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, and GSM are described in documents from anorganization named 3GPP. CDMA2000 and UMB are described in documentsfrom an organization named “3rd Generation Partnership Project 2”(3GPP2). The techniques described herein may be used for the systems andradio technologies mentioned above as well as other systems and radiotechnologies, including cellular (e.g., LTE) communications over anunlicensed or shared bandwidth. The description above, however,describes a LTE/LTE-A system for purposes of example, and LTEterminology is used in much of the description above, although thetechniques are applicable beyond LTE/LTE-A applications.

The detailed description set forth above in connection with the appendeddrawings describes examples and does not represent all of the examplesthat may be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. Theterms “example” and “exemplary,” when used in this description, mean“serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred”or “advantageous over other examples.” The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of thedescribed techniques. These techniques, however, may be practicedwithout these specific details. In some instances, well-known structuresand apparatuses are shown in block diagram form in order to avoidobscuring the concepts of the described examples.

Information and signals may be represented using any of a variety ofdifferent technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions,commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may bereferenced throughout the above description may be represented byvoltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles,optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and components described in connectionwith the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with ageneral-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, anFPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistorlogic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designedto perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processormay be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may beany conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or statemachine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination ofcomputing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor,multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunctionwith a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, softwareexecuted by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may bestored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are withinthe scope and spirit of the disclosure and appended claims. For example,due to the nature of software, functions described above can beimplemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware,hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Components implementingfunctions may also be physically located at various positions, includingbeing distributed such that portions of functions are implemented atdifferent physical locations. As used herein, including in the claims,the term “or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that anyone of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination oftwo or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if acomposition is described as containing components A, B, or C, thecomposition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B incombination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B,and C in combination. Also, as used herein, including in the claims,“or” as used in a list of items (for example, a list of items prefacedby a phrase such as “at least one of” or “one or more of”) indicates adisjunctive list such that, for example, a list of “at least one of A,B, or C” means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B andC).

Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media andcommunication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of acomputer program from one place to another. A storage medium may be anyavailable medium that can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation,computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carryor store desired program code means in the form of instructions or datastructures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purposeprocessor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readablemedium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website,server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable,twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologiessuch as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiberoptic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such asinfrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium.Disk and disc, as used herein, include compact disc (CD), laser disc,optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray discwhere disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproducedata optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also includedwithin the scope of computer-readable media.

The previous description of the disclosure is provided to enable aperson skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Variousmodifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may beapplied to other variations without departing from the scope of thedisclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not to be limited to the examplesand designs described herein but is to be accorded the broadest scopeconsistent with the principles and novel techniques disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), an indication of a controlchannel subcarrier spacing to be used by the UE; and transmitting acontrol message having a subcarrier spacing in accordance with theindication.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication isUE-specific.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting theindication comprises: transmitting the indication via radio resourcecontrol (RRC) signaling.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmittingthe indication comprises: transmitting the indication via physicaldownlink control channel (PDCCH) signaling, and wherein the controlmessage is configured with both the control channel subcarrier spacingindicated by the indication and a previous control channel subcarrierspacing.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the indicationcomprises: transmitting the indication via a UE random access procedure.6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the indication comprises:transmitting the indication in response to a request by the UE; andreceiving the request in a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or inchannel quality information (CQI) feedback.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising: changing a sequence of control channel subcarrierspacing of the control message on a per slot basis.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: changing a sequence of control channelsubcarrier spacing of the control message via a master information block(MIB) or a system information block (SIB).
 9. The method of claim 8,further comprising: transmitting a sequence indication indicating thesequence of control channel subcarrier spacing of the control message.10. A method for wireless communication, comprising: receiving, at auser equipment (UE), an indication of a control channel subcarrierspacing to be used by the UE; configuring the UE to use the controlchannel subcarrier spacing based on the indication; receiving a controlmessage; and decoding at least a portion of the control message usingthe control channel subcarrier spacing.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the indication is UE-specific.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein receiving the indication comprises: receiving the indication viaradio resource control (RRC) signaling.
 13. The method of claim 10,wherein receiving the indication comprises: receiving the indication viaphysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) signaling, wherein the controlmessage is configured with both the control channel subcarrier spacingindicated by the indication and a previous control channel subcarrierspacing.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the indicationcomprises: receiving the indication via a UE random access procedure.15. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the indication comprises:receiving the indication in response to a request by the UE; andincluding the request in a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or inchannel quality information (CQI) feedback.
 16. The method of claim 10,wherein decoding at least the portion of the control message comprises:blindly decoding the control message using the control channelsubcarrier spacing.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein decoding atleast the portion of the control message comprises: decoding the controlmessage in accordance to predefined rules regarding a sequence ofcontrol channel subcarrier spacing in the control message.
 18. Themethod of claim 10, wherein a sequence of control channel subcarrierspacing of the control message is changed on a per slot basis.
 19. Themethod of claim 10, wherein a sequence of control channel subcarrierspacing of the control message is changed via a master information block(MIB) or a system information block (SIB).
 20. The method of claim 19further comprising: receiving a sequence indication, indicating thesequence of control channel subcarrier spacing of the control message.21. The method of claim 10, wherein the control message includesmultiple portions using different control channel subcarrier spacingwithin a single slot.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the multipleportions using different control channel subcarrier spacing eachcorrespond to different UEs.
 23. A method for wireless communication,comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), an indicator channelidentifying at least a subcarrier spacing to be used in one or moresubsequent control channels; and transmitting the one or more subsequentcontrol channels in accordance with the subcarrier spacing indicated bythe indicator channel.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein a subcarrierspacing of the indicator channel is fixed.
 25. The method of claim 23,wherein the indicator channel is transmitted at a boundary of a basesubcarrier spacing, wherein the base subcarrier spacing is predefinedand constant.
 26. The method of claim 23, wherein the indicator channelis transmitted before each switch in control channel subcarrier spacing.27. The method of claim 23, wherein the indicator channel furtherindicates a sequence of subcarrier spacing to be used in the one or moresubsequent control channels, and is transmitted before a start of eachsymbol in the one or more control channels.
 28. A method for wirelesscommunication, comprising: receiving, at a user equipment (UE), anindicator channel identifying at least a subcarrier spacing to be usedin one or more subsequent control channels; decoding the indicatorchannel; receiving the one or more subsequent control channels; anddecoding the one or more subsequent control channels in accordance withthe subcarrier spacing indicated by the indicator channel.
 29. Themethod of claim 28, wherein a subcarrier spacing of the indicatorchannel is fixed.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the indicatorchannel is received at a boundary of a base subcarrier spacing, whereinthe base subcarrier spacing is predefined and constant.